Combination clock and switch

ABSTRACT

IN COMBINATION, A CLOCK AND A LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY ARE MOUNTED IN A SUITABLE HOUSING THEREFOR. THE HOUSING IS PROVIDED WITH A FACE PLATE SIZED TO BE SECURED OVER AN OPENING IN THE HOUSING SO THAT APERTURES PROVIDED IN THE FACE PLATE RECEIVE THE CLOCK AND THE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY. A DECORATIVE STRIKE PLATE IS DISPOSED OVER THE HOUSING, BEING POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE FACE PLATE TO EXPOSE THE CLOCK AND SWITCH OF THE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY. AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CLOCK AND THE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY PERMITS THE OPERATION OF THE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY TO BE SELECTIVELY INTERRUPTED WHILE THE OPERATION OF THE CLOCK REMAINS UNDISTURED. IF   PREFERRED, THE LIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY MAY BE REPLACED BY A SOCKET ASSEMBLY.

United States Patent Daniel R. Berne 144-61 Village Road, Jamaica, N.Y. 11435 [211 Appl. No. 807,680

[22] Filed Mar. 17, 1969 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [72] Inventor [54] COMBINATION CLOCK AND SWITCH (A-D), 35; 174/52-56, 66, 67; 58/395, 152, 21.15. D8/l79- I81. I84

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,392,445 l/ 1946 Anderson ..200/ l 68(D X) Primary Examiner-H. 0. Jones Atrorney- Friedman and Goodman ABSTRACT: In combination, a clock and a light switch assembly are mounted in a suitable housing therefor. The housing is provided with a face plate sized to be secured over an opening in the housing so that apertures provided in the face plate receive the clock and the light switch assembly. A decorative strike plate is disposed over the housing, being positioned adjacent to the face plate to expose the clock and switch of the light switch assembly. An electrical circuit associated with the clock and the light switch assembly permits the operation of the light switch assembly to be selectively interrupted while the operation of the clock remains undisturbed. If preferred, the light switch assembly may be replaced by a socket assembly.

l l l PATENTED JUN28 l9?! 34 FIG. 2

FIG.

FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

FIG. 3.

COMBINATION CLOCK AND SWITCH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to an electrical combination and more particularly to an electrical combination comprising a clock and light switch assembly.

2. Description of Prior Art Electric clocks are, of course, well known. However, their combination with a light switch assembly within a common housing therefor and wherein the current supplying electrical power to the light switch is adapted to be selectively interrupted by means of the switch is unknown.

3. Summary and Invention It is, therefore, among one of the principal objectives of the invention to provide an improved combination clock and light switch assembly.

In accord with the present invention, there is now provided in combination a clock and light switch assembly mounted in a housing therefor, electrical means for operating said clock and light switch assembly, said means being further adapted to selectively interrupt the operation of said light switch assembly while said means for operating said clock remain undisturbed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be hereinafter more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the invention combination.

FIG. 2 is a front plan view showing the housing in which the invention combination is accommodated.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. I in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram for wiring switch and clock circuits.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the FIGS. of the drawing, and specifically to FIGS. l3, there is shown therein the invention combination device comprising a clock 12 and a light switch assembly 14, said switch assembly 14 serving to electrically actuate a suitable lighting fixture, as will be more fully described hereinbelow.

The clock 12 and switch assembly 14 are mounted in a preferably rectangular open housing 16 therefor, and the housing is sized to fit in a suitable wall recess (not shown). The clock and switch assembly are mounted in said housing in the following manner: A face plate 20 is provided and sized to fit over the opening 22 of housing 16, being suitably secured thereto by means of a screw 24 through a bore 28 at each iongitudinal end 26 of face plate 20, each screw 24 being threadably received by an associatingly adapted bore 30 at each longitudinal end 32 of the housing. This can be readily accomplished by providing centrally located extension members 34, 36, in registered relationship, on face plate 20 and housing 16, respectively, at the longitudinal ends thereof and, in turn, bores 28 and 30 on said members also being in registry. A circular aperture 40 is provided in the upper half 42 of face plate 20 in a generally central location into which fits clock 12. At the lower half 44 of face plate 20, there is provided a substantially elliptical aperture 46 whose longer axis runs in a transverse direction into which is fitted switch assembly 14. A decorative strike plate 50, e.g. chrome, copper plate, antique or the like, is sized to fit over the housing 16 containing the clock and switch with suitable openings 54, 56 provided therein for exposing the clock and for allowing the switch 52 to pass therethrough respectively. A screw 51 LII secures strike plate 50 to face plate 20.

FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram for wiring the switch assembly and clock circuits. Conductors A and B from the power line (not shown) are tapped at points C and D to provide continuous uninterrupted current to the clock 12 by means of conductors E and F. Conductor A leads directly to an appropriate lighting fixture L, whereas conductor B IS arranged for selective interruption by means of switch 52 of switch assembly 14.

While clock 12 is illustrated above as being of the dial face type, it is to be understood that alternatively a drum-type clock may be provided. Moreover, in still another embodiment of the invention instead of a light switch assembly mounted in combination with the clock, a wall socket 60 of the female type may be provided, as shown in FIG. 2 by dotted lines. Socket 60 would be suitably wired so that power thereto would be uninterrupted, the power serving both clock and socket. An appropriately adapted strike plate, similar to 50 hereinabove described, would be provided which would be adapted to fit over this latter embodiment of the invention, i.e., clock in combination with socket.

Thus, there is provided by the invention what is considered to be a highly novel combination comprising a clock and light switch mounted in a common housing therefor and in which the switch is arranged to operate independently of the clock, although both are provided with a common source of electrical power.

Iclaim:

1. In combination a clock and light switch assembly mounted in a common housing therefor, electrical means for operating said clock and light switch assembly, said electrical means permitting operation of said light switch assembly to be selectively interrupted while operation of said clock remains undisturbed, said housing including an opening, a face plate provided and sized to be secured over said opening, means securing said face plate to said housing, said face plate provided with apertures, one of said apertures receiving said clock, another of said apertures receiving said light switch assembly, said light switch assembly provided with a switch, a decorative strike plate disposed adjacent to said face plate and fitted over said housing to expose said clock and said switch of said light switch assembly, and means securing said strike plate to said face plate.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said strike plate is chrome-plated.

3. A device according to claim-1 wherein said strike plate is copper-plated.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said strike plate is antique-plated.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said aperture receiving said clock is substantially circular and said aperture receiving said light switch assembly is substantially elliptical, said apertures disposed in vertical relation to each other.

6. In combination a clock and socket assembly mounted in a common housing therefor, electrical means for operating said clock and socket assembly, said electrical means permitting operation of said socket assembly to be selectively interrupted while operation of said clock remains undisturbed, said housing including an opening, a face plate provided and sized to be secured over said opening, means securing said face plate to said housing, said face plate provided with apertures, one of said apertures receiving said clock, another of said apertures receiving said socket assembly, said socket assembly provided with receptacle means, a decorative strike plate disposed adjacent to said face plate and fitted over said housing to expose said clock and said receptacle means of said socket assembly, and means securing said strike plate to said face plate. 

